Santos Jr. Handles It With Relative Ease

As if playing soccer isn't tough enough, Victor Santos Jr. had to go and make things tougher on himself by being good.

And because of that, Santos, a senior and three-year starter on the Wethersfield varsity, always feels like he has something to prove.

He's had that feeling since he was 7.

But Santos, 17, knew it was going to be like this. He isn't complaining because that's the way it is when your father's the coach.

Victor Santos Sr. has coached him since Victor Jr.'s days in Wethersfield's youth program.

Victor Sr. is in his sixth season as varsity coach at Wethersfield.

Victor Jr. said having his father as coach has forced him to become a better soccer player. He would like to continue to play in college at the University of Hartford or the University of Connecticut.

Although he has learned a great deal from his father and worked hard to improve, he still thinks there's some unfinished business.

"I feel I have to prove that I belong out there," Victor Jr. said. "And that has made me work even harder to accomplish things."

The younger Santos' accomplishments? He led the team in scoring as a junior with 12 goals and is leading the No. 3-ranked Eagles (10-01) again this season with 11. As an All-State selection, he helped his team win the Class L championship last year.

There's no question Victor Jr. has benefitted from having a live-in coach.

"He knows more about the game than anybody I know," Victor Jr. said.

His father said having his son involved in the sport for so long has also made Victor Jr. a solid player.

"I think it's the same way for most of the players on the team," Victor Jr. said.

As the coach's son, there is always the feeling that some may think he gets special treatment.

"Sometimes I think people think I get special treatment because my father is the coach and that isn't true," Victor Jr. said. "I don't think my teammates think that because most of us have been playing together since we were 7 and that's fine with me. They know how it is."

So, how is it?

"Sometimes I think his father is harder on him than he is on the others," his mother, Pam Santos, said.

Pam, who organizes pizza parties at home before big games, said she, too, senses some outsiders think her son receives special privileges.

"I hope I'm wrong," she said. "That's always in the back of my mind, but I know he works hard for everything he gets."

Senior goalie Kevin Hickey, who has played with the Victor Jr. for 10 years, said he admires his teammate for the way he has dealt with the situation.

"If you're here every day, you see that he is treated like everybody else. I think his father pushes him hard to take more responsibility because he's a good leader," Hickey said.

Though Victor Sr. has coached him most of his life, Victor Jr. has had other coaches, such as Sal Ferrara, whose son, Brett, is on the team.

Victor Sr. said he didn't interfere with their philosophies or coaching of his son.

"And I think that was good for him," Victor Sr. said.

It may even have helped the younger Santos develop a stronger identity as a player, one away from his father.

"[Victor Jr.] leads the team from midfield but we don't expect him to do all the scoring for us," Santos Sr. said. "Our team is very balanced this year. We've never looked for him to score a lot of goals. He's basically a playmaker."

The team has other players capable of scoring. Senior forward Mike Sullivan has seven goals and Frank Natale, a senior midfielder, has five.

He may lead the team in scoring be one of its best players, but one thing Victor Jr. has learned is to leave his deeds on the field.

"Sometimes when they win, they discuss it a little, but when they lose there really isn't much to say," Pam Santos said. "In both cases, what has to be said is usually said on the field with the rest of the players and left there."

And that it isn't easy.

"Sometimes I get mad at him," Victor Jr. said. "I just try to keep it to myself and not carry it off the field."

Victor Santos Jr. knew this father-being-the-coach stuff was going to be tough